High CCR5 density on central memory CD4+ T cells in acute HIV-1 infection is mostly associated with rapid disease progression.

CD4+ central memory T cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of simian immunodeficiency virus disease, and the CCR5 density on the surface of CD4 T cells is an important factor in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 disease progression. We hypothesized that quantifying central memory cells and CCR5 expression in the early stages of HIV-infection could provide useful prognostic information. We enrolled two different groups of acute HIV-infected subjects.

[Reconstruction of soft-tissue defect in the middle and distal thirds of the leg with the soleus muscle flap].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of surgical method with the soleus muscle flap for repairing the soft-tissue defects in the middle and distal thirds of the leg, combined with open tibial fracture and/or osteomyelitis.

Methods: From May 2007 to December 2011, 8 cases with soft-tissue defects in the middle and distal thirds of the leg were treated with soleus muscle flaps, including 5 cases with chronic osteomyelitis and 3 cases with open tibial fracture and acute osteomyelitis. The defects size ranged from 8 cm x 6 cm to 12 cm x 10 cm.

[The incidence and mortality of lung cancer among residents in Yangpu district of Shanghai from 2002 to 2010].

Objective: To analyze the incidence and mortality of lung cancer patients among residents in Yangpu District of Shanghai from 2002 to 2010.

Methods: The data of lung cancer cases in permanent residents of Yangpu district were collected from the database of the registration and management system in Shanghai city. Temporal trend in the incidence of lung cancer was analyzed by using annual percent change (APC) mode1.

Anorectal functional outcome after repeated transanal endoscopic microsurgery.

Aim: To evaluate the status of anorectal function after repeated transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM).

Methods: Twenty-one patients undergoing subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis were included. There were more than 5 large (> 1 cm) polyps in the remaining rectum (range: 6-20 cm from the anal edge).

[Investigation on the sensitivity of Anopheles sinensis to insecticide].

Objective: To investigate the sensitivity of Anopheles sinensis to DDT, cyfluthrin, malathion and deltamethrin.

Methods: In June 2009, 417, 421 and 433 mosquitoes were respectively captured from the fields of Tongbai county, Huaibin county, Yongcheng city, and tested by the adult Anopheles filter contact method recommended by WHO. The KT50 and the mortality rate of 24 h-post-exposure to 4% DDT (1.

A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies to identify prostate cancer susceptibility loci associated with aggressive and non-aggressive disease.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple common genetic variants associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (PrCa), but these explain less than one-third of the heritability. To identify further susceptibility alleles, we conducted a meta-analysis of four GWAS including 5953 cases of aggressive PrCa and 11 463 controls (men without PrCa). We computed association tests for approximately 2.

The effects of genistein on transforming growth factor-β1-induced invasion and metastasis in human pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 in vitro.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with the worst mortality rate. Therefore, a rational strategy for future drug development is critical. Genistein is a small, biologically active flavonoid that is found in high amounts in soy.

[Phylogenetic analysis and expression patterns of tropomyosin in amphioxus].

In amphioxus, we found a mesoderm related gene, tropomyosin, which encodes a protein comprising 284 amino acid residues, sharing high identities with other known Tropomyosin proteins both in vertebrates and invertebrates. Phylogenetically, amphioxus Tropomyosin fell outside the invertebrate clade and was at the base of the vertebrate protein family clade, indicating that it may represent an independent branch. From the early neurula to the larva stage, whole-mount in situ hybridization and histological sections found transcripts of amphioxus tropomyosin gene.

High mobility group B proteins regulate mesoderm formation and dorsoventral patterning during zebrafish and Xenopus early development.

The high mobility group (HMG) proteins constitute a superfamily of nuclear proteins that regulate the expression of a wide range of genes through architectural remodeling of the chromatin structure, and the formation of multiple protein complexes on promoter/enhancer regions, but their function in germ layer specification during early development is not clear. Here we show that hmgb genes regulate mesoderm formation and dorsoventral patterning both in zebrafish and Xenopus early embryos. Overexpression of hmgb3 blocks the expression of the pan-mesoderm gene no tail/Xbra and other ventrolateral mesoderm genes, and results in embryos with shortened anteroposterior axis, while overexpression of hmgb3EnR, which contains the engrailed repressor domain, most potently repressed no tail expression and mesoderm formation.

Increased leakage of brain antigens after traumatic brain injury and effect of immune tolerance induced by cells on traumatic brain injury.

Background: Although traumatic brain injury can lead to opening the blood-brain barrier and leaking of blood substances (including water) into brain tissue, few studies of brain antigens leaking into the blood and the pathways have been reported. Brain antigens result in damage to brain tissues by stimulating the immune system to produce anti-brain antibodies, but no treatment has been reported to reduce the production of anti-brain antibodies and protect the brain tissue. The aim of the study is to confirm the relationship between immune injury and arachnoid granulations following traumatic brain injury, and provide some new methods to inhibit the immune injury.

Tianma Gouteng Yin Formula for treating primary hypertension.

Background: Tianma Gouteng Yin Formula (TGYF) is widely used to treat hypertension-related symptoms in clinical practice in East Asia. It has been shown to have a blood pressure lowering effect, reducing total cholesterol, improving clinical symptoms and quality of life, and preventing the occurrence of stroke in hypertensive patients. Understanding the effect of Tianma Gouteng Yin Formula on blood pressure, quality of life and cardiovascular risk factors could be valuable for the management of high blood pressure.

Spatial correlation between malaria cases and water-bodies in Anopheles sinensis dominated areas of Huang-Huai plain, China.

Background: Malaria re-emerged in the Huang-Huai Plain of central China during 2006-2008, dominated with Anopheles sinensis as a vector. However, there is no information on strategies based on multi-factor analysis to effectively control the re-emergence of malaria in these areas. Previous experience indicates some relationship between the distribution of water bodies and malaria cases, but more detailed data are not available and in-depth studies have not been conducted up to now.

A prospective, multicenter, controlled, observational study to evaluate the efficacy of a patient support program in improving patients' persistence to adjuvant aromatase inhibitor medication for postmenopausal, early stage breast cancer.

Since the rate of persistence to adjuvant endocrine therapy such as 5-year aromatase inhibitors (AI) would decrease over time in patients with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, it is necessary to investigate if a patient support program could modify patients' beliefs and improve their persistence to AI treatment. This was a prospective, multicenter, controlled, observational study to evaluate the efficacy of a patient support program in improving postmenopausal patients' persistence to adjuvant AI medication for early stage breast cancer (NCT00769080). The primary objective was to compare the rates of 1-year persistence to upfront adjuvant AI for patients in the two observational arms (standard treatment group and standard treatment plus patient support program group).

[Advances in research of the mechanism of "covert disorder" in diabetic skin].

The diabetic ulceration is not uncommon, and becomes refractory, as the skin in a diabetic patient is relatively thin as well as hypoesthetic and less sensitive to temperature. As there are already preexisting histological and cellular derangement in the skin, healing of the skin injury is difficult, thus resulting in an intractable ulceration. When diabetes is not controlled, the skin contents of sugar and advanced glycation end product accumulate, invoking cellular deformation and accumulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), resulting in an imbalance between MMP and its inhibitors, malfunction of growth factors, and inflammatory reaction.

[Experiences of transcallosal-interforniceal approach for resection of the third ventricle and the pineal region tumors: report of 24 cases].

Objective: To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of transcallosal-interforniceal approach for resection of the third ventricle and the pineal region tumors.

Methods: The clinical data of 24 cases from July 2008 to March 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. All 24 patients operated by transcallosal-interforniceal approach, among them, there were 14 males and 10 females, with a average age of 32 years ranged from 17 to 65 years and with medical history from 1 month to 10 years.

[The occurrence and survival condition of primary liver cancer among residents in Yangpu district of Shanghai between year 2002 and 2010].

Objective: To analyze the incidence and survival rates of primary liver cancer (PLC) among residents in Yangpu district of Shanghai.

Methods: A total of 9 730 736 permanent residents (male 4 996 390 and female 4 734 346) of Yangpu district in Shanghai were recruited in the study between year 2002 and 2010; among whom 2726 PLC cases were diagnosed and 2427 death cases were certified. The incidence and mortality of PLC were calculated under the analysis of the new PLC cases and death cases between year 2002 and 2010.

A novel miR-155/miR-143 cascade controls glycolysis by regulating hexokinase 2 in breast cancer cells.

Cancer cells preferentially metabolize glucose through aerobic glycolysis. This phenomenon, known as the Warburg effect, is an anomalous characteristic of glucose metabolism in cancer cells. Chronic inflammation is a key promoting factor of tumourigenesis.

[A family associated outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in a hospital ward].

Objective: To describe the epidemiological and serological features on a family associated outbreak caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection occurred in Beijing in August 2007.

Methods: Mutual exposure of the family members was investigated and retrospective medical record was reviewed for the hospitalized patients. Serum antibodies to MP were measured and chest X-rays were taken for all the family members.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under epidural anesthesia: a retrospective comparison of 100 patients.

There are limited data about laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) under epidural anesthesia. This retrospective comparative study aimed to evaluate on the feasibility and advantages of LC under epidural anesthesia. In this retrospective comparative study, 100 patients (46 men and 54 women) with symptomatic cholelithiasis undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy using epidural anesthesia (EA) were compared with 100 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy using general anesthesia (GA).

Characterization of the immune defense related tissues, cells, and genes in amphioxus.

Amphioxus is an important animal model for phylogenetic analysis, including comparative immunology. Exploring the immune system in amphioxus contributes to our understanding of the origin and evolution of the vertebrate immune system. We investigated the amphioxus immune system using ultrastructural examination and in situ hybridization.

[A 2-year follow-up results of knee arthroscopic synovectomy plus disease modifying antirheumatic drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of knee arthroscopic synovectomy plus disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: A total of 97 RA patients were treated with knee arthroscopic synovectomy plus DMARD after arthroscopy. The control group received only DMARD.

A meta-analysis of lamivudine for interruption of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus.

Aim: To determine the therapeutic effect of lamivudine in late pregnancy for the interruption of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: Studies were identified by searching available databases up to January 2011. Inclusive criteria were HBV-carrier mothers who had been involved in randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with lamivudine treatment in late pregnancy, and newborns or infants whose serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) or HBV DNA had been documented.

Factors predicting occurrence and prognosis of hepatitis-B-virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Primary liver cancer is an important cause of cancer death, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 70%-85% of total liver cancer worldwide. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection contributes to > 75% of HCC cases. High serum viral load is the most reliable indicator of viral replication in predicting development of HCC.